World is silent, and so are we

It is difficult to think of any other matter at a time when the spiritual and moral perception of recent Israeli governments is shattering before our eyes into the darkness of Sderot and Ashkelon.

Now it turns out again that those who flee pay a price and those who refuse to address something will have to do it nonetheless from an inferior position. Meanwhile, those who adopt a flawed moral position will have to violate it through complete moral corruption, and those who abandon outlaying regions will bring the problem to the center of the country.

Children in Darfur (Photo: Reuters)

Of all the internal burning issues, the top priority is the life, welfare, and safety of southern residents, and the government of Israel is required to finally address the difficult reality bravely and honesty. And still, we cannot close our eyes to what is going on around us. Particularly in light of the fact that we know well the meaning of a Holocaust.

In the Darfur region in Sudan a Holocaust is taking place. It is true that I do not quite know where Darfur is, I'm not fully aware of who is killing who, I do not understand internal African politics, and I have no idea who can stop the massacre. All I know is that a nation that in the Holocaust suffered from the world's silence and indifference cannot do this to someone else.

This principle is a fundamental one in the Torah, which orders us to properly treat foreigners living amongst us and foreign workers who make a living here, in light of the fact we were also in the same position in Egypt and personally felt the humiliation associated with this position.

Butchers are butchering

Indeed, the people of Darfur have not won many Nobel prizes. We do not have blood-ties with them, and they do no contribute much to the global economy and culture.

Apparently they are also not especially keen Israel-lovers (although we can likely assume that they do not even know Israel exists.) They are also not an ancient people. Yet all the reasons in the world do not match one fact: The butchers are butchering, and the world is silent – again.

Calling on the world to wake up is not only about placing the responsibility on someone else; it is a decision that this is a matter that must be placed on the agenda and that we are wiling to take an active part in preventing the massacre.

Calling on the world to wake up is first of all calling on ourselves to adopt a moral stance that requires of us what we required of others, and that is true to one of the most fundamental principles of morality: Reciprocity. As long as we are silent, we lose the moral ability to slam, in the name of the Holocaust, humanity's indifference.

In a protest held this week by students in Jerusalem, another important moral voice was heard over this matter, which for us is seemingly a marginalized news story, but is in fact a Holocaust of more than two million people who are being butchered and murdered without anybody seeing or taking notice.

Indeed, we have a crazy agenda. The quantity of problems we deal with is endless. The last thing we need is another international affair we have no genuine connection to. Yet the butcher is butchering, and the world is silent. Again.